KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 ― A special court to try terror suspects has been approved in principle by the National Security Council (NSC), Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said today.

He added that the details of the special court would have to be ironed out by the judiciary.

“It has been discussed in principle by the National Security Council, and now it’s left to the judiciary to decide on the best ways to implement it,” he told reporters after launching the Defence Ministry’s Innovation Day celebrations here.

He said the government hoped the special court will prove effective to nip terrorism related activities even as it sought to remain transparent.

“The IS threat is real,” he said, referring to the global terror organisation Islamic State by its initials.

“It has spread all over the world and if we don’t take proactive measures, they will slip by our surveillance. And most damaging is of they slip past among the general public and be a security threat to the innocent,” he added.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak last week said that he had proposed the idea for the special court to the Chief Justice.

Among the arrangements Najib said was expected of the special court, was for it to be able to even hold proceedings at night.

“If there is a need to establish a special court, and that court requires proceedings to take place at night, I will stand by it,” Hishammuddin added today.

On a separate matter, Hishammuddin also confirmed today the announcement by Saudi Arabia earlier that 34 Islamic countries including Malaysia, Turkey and Pakistan, have formed an alliance to fight terrorism.

The minister said he was contacted by Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister, deputy crown prince Mohammad Bin Salman Al Saud two days ago.

“He said that all the Islamic countries had made their stand against ISIL, but it was all separately. So this initiative by Saudi Arabia, which does not include military commitments, is an understanding, among all of us to fight together against the militancy,” Hishammuddin said.